Chef Liz from Flint Donated Time and Talents to Promote Healthy Eating

(OKLAHOMA CITY) – June 7, 2016 –The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is working to improve the health of its clients by providing healthier items.

In collaboration with the Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP), the nonprofit is also offering interactive cooking and nutrition workshops designed for low and middle income individuals who are at high risk for cardiovascular disease.

Recently, Chef Elizabeth Howe from Flint donated her time and talents at the NE Regional Wellness Campus, a partner agency of the Regional Food Bank. She taught clients how to cook Italian tuna salad and salmon cakes. The recipes cost less than $10 per dish for a family of four.

“I am excited to help educate the public about the importance of a healthy diet in any way that I can,” said Chef Liz. “Healthy eating and cooking are particular passions of mine and I can firmly stand behind the program.”

Last October, SNP launched a three-year public health education campaign across the country, including Oklahoma City. This program aims to encourage Americans, especially the underserved, to eat seafood twice a week, as recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which research has shown can lower the risk of heart disease by 36 percent.

Oklahoma ranks among the 10 worst states for many key health indicators, including: cardiovascular deaths, physical inactivity, premature deaths, obesity, and preventable hospitalizations. According to the Regional Food Bank, 24 percent of clients households have at least one member in poor health; 33 percent of client households have a member with diabetes and 57 percent of client households have a member with high blood pressure.

In addition to collaborating with partners like SNP, the Regional Food Bank is providing nutrition education and healthier options for its clients through its network of partner agencies across the state and the following programs:

The Fresh RX program is a strategic effort to improve health outcomes for low-income, high-risk individuals. The program focuses on a combination of healthy food distributions, targeted clinical care, nutrition education and wellness resources.

Healthy Living Pantry Boxes provide specially selected food to meet the needs of clients living with chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension. They are distributed by “prescription” from healthcare professionals.

The Regional Food Bank places a priority on increasing the volume of fresh fruits and vegetables it distributes to its partner agencies. Last year, more than 12.7 million pounds of produce were distributed to clients, which was a 33 percent increase from the previous year.

Established in 1980, the Regional Food Bank is the largest private domestic hunger-relief organization in the state of Oklahoma. Last fiscal year, the nonprofit distributed 49.9 million pounds of food and products through a network of more than 1,250 charitable feeding programs and schools in 53 central and western Oklahoma counties.

Together, we can solve hunger. To learn more about the Regional Food Bank, or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit regionalfoodbank.org or call 405-600-3136.

About the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is the state’s largest private domestic hunger-relief organization and a member of Feeding America’s network of Food Banks. The nonprofit provides enough food to feed more than 116,000 hungry Oklahomans each week through a network of more than 1,250 schools and charitable feeding programs in 53 central and western Oklahoma counties. Since its inception in 1980, the Regional Food Bank has distributed nearly 600 million pounds of food to feed Oklahoma’s hungry. For more information, visit http://www.regionalfoodbank.org; find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/regionalfoodbank or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/rfbo.

About Seafood Nutrition Partnership

Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to inspire a healthier America through partnerships that raise awareness about the essential nutritional benefits of eating seafood. SNP leads education efforts to help Americans gain the skills to select, order and prepare fish and shellfish, and to inspire a healthier America by promoting a nutrient-rich diet that includes seafood. In October 2015, SNP launched a three-year national public health education campaign.